USA: 2019 budget favors wars abroad over poor Americans

SPUTNIK – On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump released his “efficient, effective and accountable” budget for fiscal year 2019 and, to no surprise, social programs are on the chopping block.

Aside from wanting to privatize the International Space Station and eliminate the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, Trump is also looking to cut food assistance programs by $214 billion. The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program is also going to be cut by $21 billion.

While both Medicaid and Medicare say goodbye to $250 billion and $550 billion, respectively, in Trump’s budget, military spending will see an increase of $777 billion. In short, the Trump administration is looking to swing its MAGA-branded axe at social programs that help poor Americans, some of which might have even voted for Trump, in order to toss more money to military contractors.

Speaking to Sputnik Radio’s Loud & Clear, financial policy analyst Daniel Sankey told show hosts Brian Becker and John Kiriakou that Trump’s plans are going to leave the US in a financial mess down the road.

“[It’s] going to cause some incredible deficits in the future and I can promise you that politicians are going to use that as an excuse to cut social services. However, what they will not do is use it as an excuse to roll back on the military budget… that is simply off the table,” Sankey added, before doubling down on the notion that the Trump administration prefers to create weapons that end life than create programs that promote life.

In Sankey’s opinion, the only way that social programs can be saved from the trash bin is if people mobilize.

“Right now the decision is being made that wars abroad take priority — it’s absurd,” he added.

It’s unfortunate, but what’s keeping people in the US from having a comfortable life is military contractors, noted Sankey.

“There’s plenty of money… there’s an absurd amount of money — people could have a very comfortable life,” Sankey urged. “There could be education for all, there could be housing and yet the only thing that’s standing in the way is military contractors who are making billions and billions of dollars.”

Occasionally it is simpler to forgive the actions of yet another man or woman than your own transgression or error. Your daily life could have altered because of you carrying out some thing or not undertaking something: If only I had not been so hellip. Its all my fault. They never ever forgive me. I can by no means forgive myself. You may be beating yourself up, stuck in self-recrimination, guilt and shame, because of one thing you did or did not do. But there is no benefit to self-condemnation. It does not change anything. Only deciding on distinct behaviours or creating amends for your actions will make a big difference for the future.